North-west region in the grip of severe cold wave

Chandigarh, Jan 30 (UNI) The north-west India continued to be in the grip of severe cold wave with the mercury remaining static at minus 1.2 degrees celsius at Adampur in Punjab today.

People groaned under piercing cold wave as the night temperatures hovered one degree to six degrees below normal at many places in the region. Chilly winds swept across the region even as a bright sunshine greeted them during the day.

Many areas remained shrouded in a dense fog which reduced visibility beyond 300 metres at Sarsawa, 500 metres at Hindon and Palam in Delhi and 800 metres at Udhampur. Chandigarh, Adampur, Halwara, Ambala, Sirsa and Bhatinda expereienced mist in the morning. The fog and mist cleared as the day advanced.

The prevailing cold wave conditions are likely to abate after two days, according to the Met office here. It, however, warned that ground frost might occur at most places in Punjab and many places in Haryana during the next two nights.

Adampur, where the minimum temperature remained static at minus 1.2 degrees celsius for the second successive day today, turned out to be the coldest place in Punjab.

Ludhiana registered the minimum at 1.1 degrees, Amritsar at 1.3 degrees and Patiala at 1.6 degrees, Halwara airbase at 3.2 degrees and Bhatinda and Pathankot 3.4 degrees each.

There was no let up in the cold wave lashing Haryana. The minimum temperatures further plummeted in the state with Narnaul recording 0.3 degrees, five degrees below normal, while Ambala showed 1.1 degrees, six degrees down. Karnal registered a low of 2.6 degrees, four degrees below normal, and Hissar 4.8 degrees celsius.

Himachal Pradesh also reeled under the cold wave with people in the tribal areas facing extreme cold conditions. The minimum further dipped at Kalpa in tribal Kinnaur district, recording minus 9.6 degrees celsius.

Mid and lower hills of the state were also under the impact of cold wave. The minimum settled at 0.6 degrees at Sundernagar in Mandi district, 1.2 degrees at Una, 2.3 degrees at Bhuntar in Kullu district and 5.1 at Nahan, headquarters of Sirmour district.

Cold wave intensified at Shimla recording a low of minus 2.5 degrees, five degrees below normal.

Chandigarh and its adjoining areas were also under the imapct of cold wave conditions with the night temperature furhter dipping to 1.4 degrees, six degrees below normal.

The Kashmir valley continued to be in the grip of cold wave with Srinagar recording minus 1.2 degrees while Jammu registered 4.0 degrees, four degrees below normal.

The Met Office predicted light to moderate rain or snow at few places in Himachal Pradesh while the weather will be mainly sunny in Punjab and haryana tomorrow.

UNI VKJ JS1712